Advantages Of Minimally Invasive Gallbladder Surgery
Over the years, laparoscopic/robotic gallbladder surgery has become a preferred option for treating gallbladder problems. The reason is because the procedure offers several advantages, particularly the ones provided below.
- Many patients experience less pain and discomfort when laparoscopic/robotic gallbladder surgery is used.
- Patients may go home the same day after undergoing laparoscopic and robotic gallbladder surgery.
- Patients who have undergone laparoscopic/robotic surgery can resume normal activities much sooner than they would have if they had undergone open surgery.
Not everyone will be the right candidate for minimally invasive gallbladder surgery. It is important to be able to discuss this with a top gallbladder surgeon prior to an operation. Additionally, the best gallbladder surgeons skilled in laparoscopic robotic gallbladder surgery offer this option more frequently to their patients.
How Laparoscopic Robotic Gallbladder Surgery Is Done
Laparoscopic/robotic gallbladder surgery is a convenient and straightforward procedure. It is usually conducted using the following steps.
Step 1: Administration of General Anesthesia
Before the surgery is performed, patients are administered with general anesthesia. To reduce any pain or discomfort caused by the procedure, and to allow complete relaxation of the abdominal muscles for the planned surgery. The patient is asleep during the entire process and does not experience any sensations during the procedure.
Step 2: Creation of Incisions
The gallbladder surgeon makes several small incisions in the patient’s abdomen. Then a small narrow tube is passed into the abdomen. Carbon dioxide gas is then pumped through the tube inflate the abdomen and allow the surgeon to get a better view of the patient’s internal organs and anatomy.
Step 3: Camera Insertion
Once inflated, a tiny high-resolution camera is inserted into the abdomen through another tube. The camera is used to transmit images back to a console in the operating room monitored by the surgeon.
Step 4: Conducting Laparoscopic/Robotic Gallbladder Surgery
As soon as the gallbladder surgeon has a clear picture of the patient’s anatomy, instruments are inserted to perform the operation. The gallbladder is removed through one of the incisions. In some cases, a robot assists with the operation (robotic gallbladder surgery).
In these situations, the surgery is performed the same way. The only difference is that the doctor guides the robot instead of manipulating the instruments directly through the console. An x-ray of the bile duct and gallbladder may be taken during robotic gallbladder surgery to pinpoint the exact location of the gallstones and to determine if any stones are blocking the bile duct. After the gallbladder removal, the patient is generallyallowed to go home that same day. However, there are cases when the patient is not discharged immediately. Admission to the hospital is rarely necessary with minimally invasive surgery.